Wizards of the Coast DMCA Targets Fan's Baldur's Gate 3 Mod, Larian CEO Reacts

Wizards of the Coast has issued a DMCA takedown notice on a fan-created mod for Stardew Valley, titled "Baldur's Village," which integrates characters from Baldur's Gate 3 into the popular farming simulation game. This action came despite the mod having been publicly praised by Larian Studios CEO Sven Vincke shortly after its release earlier this month. Vincke had taken to Twitter to commend the mod, stating, "So much love went into this - amazing work!"

However, the mod was swiftly removed following the DMCA takedown issued by Wizards of the Coast, the IP holder for Dungeons & Dragons and Baldur's Gate. A spokesperson from Nexus Mods, speaking to PC Gamer, expressed hope that the takedown was an oversight, noting that Wizards of the Coast often employs external agencies to identify infringing content. "Hopefully, this is an oversight from WotC, who often use external agencies to hunt down violating content, and they will revert their decision," the spokesperson said. "Fingers crossed for Baldur's Village."

In response to the takedown, Sven Vincke took to Twitter once more to express his continued support for the mod while acknowledging the complexities of IP protection. He stated, "Protecting your IP can be tricky but I do hope this gets settled. There are good ways of dealing with this." Vincke further emphasized the value of fan mods, saying, "Free quality fan mods highlighting your characters in other game genres are proof your work resonates and a unique form of word of mouth. Imho they shouldn't be treated like commercial ventures that infringe on your property."

This incident may be part of a broader strategy by Wizards of the Coast to protect the Baldur's Gate IP. Recent discussions at the Game Developers Conference hinted at upcoming announcements regarding the future of the IP, suggesting that the takedown might be connected to these plans. Alternatively, it could be a mistake that Wizards of the Coast will correct. Efforts have been made to reach out to Wizards of the Coast for further comment on the situation.